205 – Before the Storm (8)
“I heard a few days ago that an iron mine was developed in Count Frost’s estate. Congratulations. Thanks to you, I’ll give you a little thicker wallet. “
“Thank you Count Balt. It’s still in the exploration phase, so I’m only receiving congratulations. Ha ha ha. I also heard rumors that your family is very harmonious. Heard that he can’t sleep well because he spends hot time with his wife every night… “
“That’s half true, half wrong. It’s true that I haven’t been able to sleep, but I’m dying every day learning politics from her wife in my bedroom… Thanks to that, I was praised by His Highness… “
“But, considering that you impregnated her wife at that age, it’s not just a rumor. I envy you… I’m not on bad terms with her wife either, but these days, my age is me… Sometimes sleeping in bed is scary.”
In other empires and kingdoms, it is rare for nobles with titles to have such intimate personal conversations in a meeting room.
The nobles of almost all estates usually view each other only from a political point of view, not as someone worthy of a personal friendship.
However, some of the nobles, including those two contributors to my kingdom, have been living together since the days when Kreutel was just a baron family in the countryside.
Again, everyone has obtained enormous wealth and power according to their achievements, so there is no need to check the other person.
So, I guess we can treat each other like that without pretense.
Also, from my point of view, it’s better to get along well than to fight for each other’s interests… I need to intervene.
“It is surprising that Count Frost, the greatest knight in our kingdom… Is afraid of the night. So, after the meeting, I’ll give you dried oysters, pork, and almonds so that Kyung can regain his courage. Then, let’s start slowly.”
As soon as I announced the start of the meeting, everyone’s eyes focused on me.
At the same time, I pointed the baton at the bulletin board where the map was hanging and started talking.
“First of all, the number one enemy of our kingdom is, of course, the Elain Empire. However, now we have to focus on restoring internal affairs, so trade in all items except arms is freely conducted…
If you have a little spare time, you’ll be able to cross swords right away. And, in my opinion, it will take the next four years for the Elain Empire to rectify internal turmoil and complete minimum war preparations.”
It will probably take two years to sort out the chaos and two years to prepare the necessary supplies for the war.
“On the other hand, in the case of our kingdom, the newly secured Ilia and the Earl of Isra are stabilizing and preparing for war… The required time is thought to be about two years from now.
In other words, as soon as the mad emperor of the Elain Empire manages to calm the chaos in the next four years, we can launch a preemptive strike by launching a war.”
After I said something that seemed to suggest a preemptive strike and paused for a moment, the nobles who were listening to me fervently proposed.
“The most stupid man in war is the one who waits until the enemy is ready, Your Highness. Hit it first.”
“To put it bluntly, the Elain Empire has no good commanders except for the Duke of Brussels! Our team has a good chance of winning.”
“Can’t we live with the same sky as the cowardly guys who try to purify us by borrowing the hands of the French Empire and declaring us traitors? You have to strike first.”
As the nobles here say, I think the best strategy is to strike first.
Even when actually playing a strategy game, it is more advantageous to strike first when I come up with an angle where I can rob the opponent’s base.
How much more, compared to strategy games where you can only make some standardized preparations, in a real war where you can defend enough to vomit from the opponent’s point of view?
The most efficient and effective tactic is to launch an unpredictable preemptive strike in order not to give any time to prepare.
“I also agree with the sutras. However, the Duke of Brussels, who was the only one active in the last expedition, is no fool. No, he is an excellent commander. In fact, when His Majesty the Damned Emperor was only getting beaten up in the Marquis of Espresso, the Duke of Brussels led the Western Expeditionary Force and occupied half of the Marquis of Espresso. So he will anticipate what we will hit first before they are ready and thoroughly prepare for the situation. Then he will inflict considerable damage on his allies, and he will also give the area of territory that can be occupied to that extent. Also, when our sacrifices increase… It is judged that there is a high possibility that Pappenheim, Rhein, and Martimus will not miss the opportunity and come with an army to plunder or occupy our territory.”
Apart from this, the French Empire is also likely to change its mind and attack our affluent kingdom in the event that our sacrifices in the war against the Elain Empire increase.
Even if the Marquis Simon objected under the pretext that he had already sent the heirs of his family, Louis and Laurent, to our academy as hostages, the Emperor would give them an appropriate reward and keep their mouth shut.
However, if we see that our kingdom is quickly advancing in the war, we will assemble an army from the Marquis of Presso and attack the eastern side of Elaine, as promised.
In a situation where Romania is not moving, we will judge that it is more profitable to attack them than to fight us.
“Therefore, we believe that a simple preemptive strike is not enough. Therefore, I conceived a strategy for victory in this war. Distribute the report to all.”
With those words, a bunch of documents were placed on the desks of all the nobles who participated in the meeting.
“Open the report. Then I’ll start explaining right away. The name of this operation is ‘Storm’. Let’s start with step 1.
First of all, the size of the army to be mobilized for this expedition is 100,000 combat troops and 50,000 supplies, a total of 150,000 people will be mobilized. The 50,000 supply soldiers are expected to be assigned the role of guarding the transit points through which food and equipment for combat troops are transported from abroad. Other convoys will not be counted as regular combat personnel, as they are not always on the battlefield. First of all, the time when the operation will start is expected to be about two years later in March, and the assembly point is Blue Fort.”
Hearing that, Count Frost, who had the highest rank among his vassals, asked back.
“Wouldn’t it be better to start from Ilias Castle, the capital of Count Ilias, or from a place close to the Elean Empire, such as Nantes? Marching from Blueport to Elline will only consume more time and supplies… “
“Your point is correct. No, we will ostensibly accumulate supplies there as we prepare for an expedition to Maxburg, Burg, and Saxenia. Therefore, 100,000 troops will be stocked with food for three months in the Blue Fort, and preparations for the actual expedition will be made. Also, I plan to place Admiral Braim’s fleet there for supply.”
Hearing that, the nobles looked at me with faces that did not understand what I was thinking.
“When climbing slowly with a large army of only 100,000, the visible equipment such as armor and weapons will be perfectly packed, but only an empty box of gunpowder will be carried.
And as soon as you reach the Blue Fort, put all your extra food and armor down there. Then, the entire force will move as quickly as possible to ‘Esters’ Castle, which is located on the border between the Duchy of Orléans and our kingdom.”
It takes at least two months to get from Blueport to Esters at normal marching speed, but if it goes as I planned… You can go in about 2 weeks.
Because…
“When traveling from Blueport to Esters, it will be 35km on foot and 50km on cart. Roughly 2 days on foot, 1 day on cart will go in rotation. In the meantime, at the supply base located in the middle, once every 2 hours, they eat a ball of seaweed soup, salted water, and a proper meal every 7 hours. If you do that, you will arrive in Esters in as little as 3 weeks and as long as 4 weeks… The Duke of Orléans, who did not expect us to come, will be busy mobilizing troops very quickly.”
Then why don’t you go to Brussels? A question may arise, but…
As for the Duke of Brussels, even though I’m moving troops to the Blue Fort, there’s a good chance he’s making some preparations.
Based on that preparation, they will hold out until nobles from other territories send reinforcements.
So what? All the soldiers led by the Duke of Orléans also fall under the Duke of Brussels, and the battle is likely to be longer.
From Noble mtl dot com
So, even if you overdo it a little, you should go back to Orléans, where you can eat and go in comfortably.
“When they first learn that our troops are going to Blueport, they will think we are going against Maxburg, Burg and Saxenia. And the Duke of Brussels, which is close to the Blue Fort, will prepare for a war that may happen in the future. Then, what if we belatedly learn that we have returned and that the target is the Duchy of Orléans? The Duke of Orléans will summon his barons and mobilize his soldiers with frantic haste. When they start to hurriedly gather in front of our army, who arrived much earlier than expected! Snipers with Kreutel-type matchlocks will be used to shoot the duke and his vassals who hold the title of baron or higher. After destroying the enemy’s command system by removing the commanders silently, they will attack the enemy all at once, completely occupy the Duchy of Orléans, and fight the enemy. As for the contents after that, I will let you know when I go out later.”